EXTRAORDINARY ANECDOTES OF TWO ROBIN-REDBREASTS.

BY JAMES EMERSON, ESQ.

THESE amiable and confiding little creatures, have long been remarkable for their familiarity with man; their desire to fix their residences in the vicinity of his; and the unsuspicious freedom with which they desert the society of their companions of the air, and seek the friendship and protection of mankind. Of this propensity, I am about to relate a singular anecdote, to part of which I was myself an eyewitness. In the summer of 1826, two little robins were observed hopping about the hall, and settling upon the windows of Dr. M'Ilveen, a physician, resident in Hollywood, a beautiful village on the sea shore, in the north of Ireland. Day by day

they became gradually more familiar;

and at length

ventured to enter some of the rooms, and finally

Here

commenced building their nest on a shelf in a corner of the Doctor's laboratory. For this purpose they moved, with considerable difficulty, a small gallipot, which occupied the situation they had determined to appropriate to themselves; and having by degrees advanced it to the edge of the shelf, they, by one powerful effort, overturned it on the floor, and commenced the construction of their nest on the spot where it had stood. The Doctor, however, did not approve of the site they had selected; but being unwilling to drive them away, removed one of his books from the centre of a set, and permitted them to commence building in the niche. their work proceeded rapidly; and though constantly surrounded by strangers, they betrayed no symptoms of terror or apprehension. Their nest was placed immediately on the mantel-piece, and occupied four days in its construction; the Doctor supplying them with wool and moss, which they picked off the floor as he flung it down, and they providing themselves with hair, for the purpose of lining the inside. The hen now laid seven eggs, and in the course of twelve days had her little ones chirping about her. During the period of incubation, her companion was most assiduous in his attentions, supplying her

worms, and grains of corn. The first nourishment with which he supplied his young was spiders, which he sought for through every corner of the house and offices; and when these failed, or, as is more likely, when he judged that they were strong enough to digest coarser food, he commenced feeding them on groats, with which the Doctor took care constantly to supply him. One day, however, he discovered the road to the pantry, and commenced his attack upon the butter;—regularly, as he gave to each a grain of corn, he next brought it a piece of butter; and thus supplying them alternately with meat and (this substitute for) liquid, they grew, in a short time, to an unusual size-the little creatures being extremely rich and fat, in consequence of this method of stall feeding. The old birds were, however, particularly careful in keeping their nest neat and clean. It was every day regulated more than once; and the Doctor observing that this duty was performed with their bills, chose rather to confine them to a portion of lard, designed for their especial use. A vessel containing this substitute was placed within their reach, and the little ones seemed to relish it equally with the stores of the pantry. Their constant food was now groats and lard; and as they grew to

maturity, it was laughable to see the figure the old birds made, in consequence of their being besmeared with the grease; their wings and little red breasts being perfectly saturated with the oil of the lard.

Every indication of fear or timidity had long disappeared. The mother would sometimes hop from her nest and pick groats from the table, and she would even permit herself to be patted on the head; while her partner flew about from shelf to shelf, perched on the windows, twittered and chirruped, and seemed to exult with all his heart in his domestic comforts and the prosperity of his little family.

The young birds, at length, began to leave the nest: large, healthy, full-grown fellows, they took to wing; hopped for some time around the place of their birth, and at last finding their way through the door, flew to the flowers in the garden, and gradually forgot to return. The old couple did not, however, so soon desert the house of their entertainer: they immediately set about the construction of a new nest. But the coldness or the bustle of the place displeased them: they left their old quarters, and penetrating into the kitchen, they began to build on the shoe board, near the fire-place

please the Doctor; he tore down, two or three times, the materials they brought, and placing them in a more convenient situation, at last compelled them to build where he wished; namely, on a lower shelf. The hen here again laid seven eggs; and after sitting twelve or thirteen days, as before, brought forth six young birds. The affectionate parent now went through the same round of duty as before. Provisions were, as usual, left out for him, and he returned daily to the store of groats and lard, with which he fed them. At last, however, he experienced a sad misfortune: the little birds were just beginning to fly, when one morning two of them, whilst hovering about the grate, fell into the fire, and before any assistance could be rendered them were unfortunately burned to death. The nest and the remaining four were now removed to their former abode, and continued there till the remainder of the birds were reared, and had taken their farewell flight.

During all this round of arduous duty, the little provider was exceedingly domestic in his habits, and unremitting in his attentions; he was either occupied in seeking food, or sat upon a peg in the hall, watching the movements of his family. No cat was permitted to approach the premises. Often, when